Eleanor Van Gent

Eleanor M. Van Gent, 89, of Burnett, WI, was called to her heavenly home at Waupun Christian Home on Sunday, January 7, 2024. She was born February 3, 1934, on a farm near Oskaloosa, Iowa, the daughter of Gerrit and Wilma Van Haaften Hasselman. 

In 1951, Eleanor graduated from Oskaloosa High School. She continued her education at Central College in Pella, Iowa, where she received a Bachelor’s Degree in Home Economics Education. Later she received a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education from Michigan State University in Lansing, Michigan. 

On June 16, 1955, Eleanor married Edward J. Van Gent in Leighton, Iowa. She taught elementary school in Knoxville, Iowa. Eleanor and Edward were missionaries to the American Indians through the Reformed Church in America in Macy, Nebraska from 1956-1962 and in Winnebago, Nebraska from 1962-1968. During these years she served the Lord in children’s, youth, and women’s ministries. 

The family moved to Zeeland, Michigan where Eleanor taught home economics in Jenison, Michigan for one year and elementary education in Holland, Michigan for 14 years. She was also an active member of Community Reformed Church serving in the children’s and women’s ministries. 

Edward and Eleanor moved to Mountain Home, Arkansas in 1984, where Eleanor continued her career in teaching secondary education. She was an active member of the First Baptist Church, especially in the leadership of First Place 4 Health. In July 2000, they moved to Waupun, Wisconsin. There she was an active member of the First Reformed Church again leading First Place 4 Health and being involved in Adventures in Mission and the Women’s Ministries. In addition, she enjoyed being an active member of the Alphi Xi chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, the American Sewing Guild, greeting at the Seippel Center for Music and the Arts, and taught numerous sewing and quilting classes. She always enjoyed being with her family, traveling, reading, sewing, and quilting. 

Eleanor is survived by her two daughters, Elissa (Nevin) Webster of Burnett, Wisconsin and Elona Van Gent (Greg Harrison) of Ann Arbor, Michigan and one son, Elliott (Diana) Van Gent of Tustin, Michigan along with twelve grandchildren and seventeen great grandchildren.  She is also survived by her brother-in-law Kenneth (Esther) Van Gent of Pella, Iowa.

Eleanor was preceded in death by her loving husband, Edward Van Gent; a sister, Eileen Hessing and husband, Elmer; a brother, Wayne Hasselman and wife Norma; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Guysbert and Esther Van Wyk, Carl and Janice Henning. 

Funeral services for Eleanor will be held at First Reformed Church in Waupun, Wisconsin on Thursday, January 11, 2024 at 11:00 a.m., Pastor Barry Lang officiating.  Visitation will be held at Werner Harmsen Funeral Home in Waupun on Wednesday, January 10 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., with visitation at the church from 10:00 a.m. until time of service on Thursday.  Burial will take place in Leighton, Iowa.  Visitation in Iowa will be held at Van Dyk-Duven Funeral Home in Pella, Iowa, Friday, January 12 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. with the burial service on Saturday, January 13 at 11:00 a.m. at Evergreen Cemetery.  

Memorials may be given to Ebenezer Reformed Church of Leighton, Iowa or First Reformed Church of Waupun, Wisconsin.